Going for a short stroll after a match or training session helps 
“Just walking around can be beneficial. If you suddenly stop after a long match, your heart will slow down and your blood goes to your legs and feet, and that can make you feel dizzy. You could pass out," said Jean-Pierre Bruyere, a fitness trainer who has worked with Victoria Azarenka, among others. 

Some players like to eat soon after coming off court 
"It is very important to put some food in your body within an hour of when you finish playing or training," said Sloane Stephens. 

But others don't believe in eating quickly after a match, practice or fitness session 
“If you’ve just played for five hours, then yes you have to fuel yourself. But if you’ve only been on court for 90 minutes, there’s no need to eat so quickly. This is something that changes after every match," said Bruyere. "I think you judge this based on the match you’ve just played, and how your body feels. Don’t get in a routine of thinking, ‘I need to eat six chickens after every match’, or ‘I need to have lots of sushi’. There’s no need.”

As uncomfortable as you feel sitting in an ice-bath, it will help your recovery 
"This is the hardest part of my fitness regime," said Stephens. "I think taking the steps after training is equally as important as the training itself. Icing is so cold, but I know how important it is so I suck it up.  I always feel way better afterwards too."

According to Bruyere, an ice bath is much mote beneficial than sitting in a regular bath: "With the ice, it always feels good afterwards. I know it doesn’t feel good when you get in, but afterwards you can always feel better, and that’s not always the case with having a warm bath or shower. If you’ve been playing somewhere hot, like Australia, it’s great to have a cool down by getting in an ice bath. It helps to drop your body temperature after running around for several hours."

Swimming in the pool - or the sea - can help your body to recover 
"When I have a day off during a training block, I try to get in the pool or, if there's a beach nearby, to get in the water," said Samantha Stosur. 

When stretching, identity where there are tensions in your body
"It’s best to stretch when you’re relaxed, and when you don’t have people around you," said Bruyere. "It’s a chance for you to see where the tensions are in your body, and also see whether you need to have any extra treatment to your body. It helps you to diagnose what needs to be done, and what’s tight."

Stephens recommends static stretching after matches: "This really cools the muscles down and gets the lactic acid out, which causes soreness."

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This is an editorial. Views expressed do not represent those of WTA Sports Sciences.